2. Spot Trends

Use Apps such as Instagram, TrendSpottr, Pinterest and StumbleUpon to find the latest trends for this coming holiday season and get gift ideas for your loved ones.

3. Twitter Lists

List your favorite stores and brands you want to hit up in a Twitter list so you can monitor their tweets in one stream. You can watch for exclusive deals and compare their prices before you hit the pavement shopping.

4. Subscribe to those in the know

Follow blogs like bfads.net, blackfriday.info, theblackfriday.com, and blackfriday.com that are always on top of the best deals. You can also create an RSS feed for all the blogs you would like to watch.

5. Narrow Your Focus

Now that you have a list of stores and brands set up, try filtering it by keyword – like the exact product you are looking for. For example, filter your stream with “iPhone 5s.” Do you want to know which electronics store is offering the best deal? Try filters like “50% off,” or “75% off.”

6. Social Search

Use Google Maps and Hootlet to look up tweets around the shopping mall(s) you want to visit. Make your search specific.

7. Hashtags

Create 2 search streams: one for #blackfriday and one for #cybermonday. Geo-locate your search for the area you intend on shopping, and you won’t miss out on a single deal.

8. Mobile App

Make sure you’re using one of our mobile apps. When you’re on the ground, keep following those hashtags, keywords and twitter lists you’ve set up with your mobile app. You’ll be able to listen to the masses, and know where to stay away from — crazy crowds and super long lineups? No thanks!

Start the day with your phone 100% charged! And bring along your charger for back-up. You’re going to need battery power when you want to snap a pic to send to your brother to verify that you are, in fact, buying the correct PlayStation game for your nephew.

Pro Tip: Want to find out what the action is like at the store? Do a geo-located search for tweets near that location and you’ll know what’s up.

9. Foursquare

Use Foursquare to check in at locations to see if they provide a discount or offer. Also, you can use it before you arrive to learn more about the establishment. There could even be tips from others who have checked in before you!